Oxytocin in the recognition of emotions

The “social” neuropeptide plays a role in facial mimicry

Studies have demonstrated that oxytocin (which acts as an hormone and also as a neurotransmitter in the brain) plays a role in facilitating the perception of emotions in other people’s facial expressions. An international study conducted by Sebastian Korb (researcher in the SISSA’s Neurosciences area) and colleagues has tested the idea that this phenomenon is related to facial mimicry. According to embodied cognition theory, in fact, the recognition of others’ emotions is facilitated by their imitation and reproduction with our own face. The study confirms this facilitating effect, which proves to be more pronounced for expressions conveying negative emotions (anger, distress), especially when seen on the face of a child.